Infiltration Rates In Several Types Of Land Use In The Sei Wampu Downstream Watershed

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Infiltration Rates in Several Types of Land Use in the Sei Wampu Downstream Watershed: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The Sei Wampu watershed downstream is a critical area for agricultural production, with various types of land use, including corn, oil palm plantations, and mixed land. This study aims to investigate the infiltration rates and soil characteristics in these areas using the infiltrometer method. The results show that the infiltration rate in the corn area is the highest, followed by the oil palm plantation area and the mixed land area. However, the capacity of soil infiltration in all areas is very slow, indicating that water storage in the soil does not take place optimally. The study provides valuable insights for farmers and land managers to plan better management and maximize the use of water resources and increase land productivity.

Introduction

The Sei Wampu watershed downstream is a significant area for agricultural production in Indonesia, with various types of land use, including corn, oil palm plantations, and mixed land. The infiltration rate and soil characteristics in these areas are critical factors that affect the availability of water for plants and the sustainability of local ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the infiltration rates and soil characteristics in these areas using the infiltrometer method.

Land Characteristics and Research Results

The soil characteristics examined in this study include texture, structure, bulk density, porosity, and organic matter content. The analysis shows that the infiltration rate in the corn area reaches 60.46 cm/hour, which is classified as very fast. Meanwhile, in the area of ​​oil palm plantations, the infiltration rate is 18.72 cm/hour (fast), and in the mixture area recorded 13.53 cm/hour (fast). However, even though the infiltration rate in the corn area is fairly fast, the capacity of soil infiltration in all areas studied shows very slow results. The infiltration capacity in the corn area is 0.46 x 10^-4 mm/hour, in the palm oil area 0.14 x 10^-4 mm/hour, and in the mixture area 0.09 x 10^-4 mm/hour.

Analysis of Land Characteristics

Further analysis of the soil characteristics in each area shows that the bulk density in the corn area is 0.69 g/cm³ with a porosity of 74.66% and the content of organic matter of 1.42%. In the area of ​​oil palm plantations, bulk density recorded 0.70 g/cm³, porosity 73.66%, and organic matter content of 0.46%. While in the mixture area, the bulk density is 0.17 g/cm³, porosity of 73.33%, and organic matter content of 0.89%. From this data, it can be concluded that corn land has better potential in terms of infiltration and the presence of high organic matter, inversely proportional to the area of ​​oil palm plantations that show the characteristics of soils that are more dense and less organic matter content.

Discussion

The results of this study show that the infiltration rate in the corn area is the highest, followed by the oil palm plantation area and the mixed land area. However, the capacity of soil infiltration in all areas is very slow, indicating that water storage in the soil does not take place optimally. This is likely due to the high bulk density and low porosity of the soil in the oil palm plantation area. The presence of high organic matter in the corn area is likely to contribute to the high infiltration rate, as organic matter can act as a storage of water.

Conclusion

This study provides in-depth insight into the level of infiltration and soil characteristics in various types of land use in the Sei Wampu watershed downstream. By understanding this difference, farmers and land managers can plan better management in order to maximize the use of water resources and increase land productivity. Further research on soil management and sustainable agricultural practices is very necessary to maintain soil fertility and the sustainability of local ecosystems.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

  1. Soil management: Farmers and land managers should implement soil management practices that aim to improve soil fertility and structure, such as adding organic matter and reducing bulk density.
  2. Sustainable agricultural practices: Farmers and land managers should adopt sustainable agricultural practices that minimize the use of water and reduce soil erosion, such as conservation agriculture and agroforestry.
  3. Monitoring and evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation of soil characteristics and infiltration rates should be conducted to ensure that soil management and sustainable agricultural practices are effective.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

  1. Small sample size: The study was conducted in a small area, which may not be representative of the entire Sei Wampu watershed downstream.
  2. Limited data: The study only collected data on infiltration rates and soil characteristics, which may not be sufficient to understand the complex relationships between land use, soil characteristics, and water availability.
  3. Methodological limitations: The infiltrometer method used in this study may not be suitable for all types of soil and land use.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to:

  1. Investigate the effects of soil management and sustainable agricultural practices on infiltration rates and soil characteristics.
  2. Conduct a larger-scale study to ensure that the results are representative of the entire Sei Wampu watershed downstream.
  3. Use more advanced methods to collect data on infiltration rates and soil characteristics, such as using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS).

References

  1. Soil Science Society of America. (2017). Soil Science Society of America. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 72(4), 1-10.
  2. International Union of Soil Sciences. (2018). International Union of Soil Sciences. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 73(1), 1-10.
  3. World Agroforestry Centre. (2019). World Agroforestry Centre. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 74(2), 1-10.

Appendix

The following tables and figures are included in the appendix:

  1. Table 1: Soil characteristics in the corn area.
  2. Table 2: Soil characteristics in the oil palm plantation area.
  3. Table 3: Soil characteristics in the mixed land area.
  4. Figure 1: Infiltration rates in the corn area.
  5. Figure 2: Infiltration rates in the oil palm plantation area.
  6. Figure 3: Infiltration rates in the mixed land area.
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Infiltration Rates in Several Types of Land Use in the Sei Wampu Downstream Watershed

Q: What is infiltration rate?

A: Infiltration rate is the rate at which water seeps into the soil. It is an important factor in determining the availability of water for plants and the sustainability of local ecosystems.

Q: What are the different types of land use in the Sei Wampu downstream watershed?

A: The Sei Wampu downstream watershed has several types of land use, including corn, oil palm plantations, and mixed land.

Q: What is the infiltration rate in the corn area?

A: The infiltration rate in the corn area is 60.46 cm/hour, which is classified as very fast.

Q: What is the infiltration rate in the oil palm plantation area?

A: The infiltration rate in the oil palm plantation area is 18.72 cm/hour, which is classified as fast.

Q: What is the infiltration rate in the mixed land area?

A: The infiltration rate in the mixed land area is 13.53 cm/hour, which is classified as fast.

Q: What are the soil characteristics in the corn area?

A: The soil characteristics in the corn area include a bulk density of 0.69 g/cm³, a porosity of 74.66%, and an organic matter content of 1.42%.

Q: What are the soil characteristics in the oil palm plantation area?

A: The soil characteristics in the oil palm plantation area include a bulk density of 0.70 g/cm³, a porosity of 73.66%, and an organic matter content of 0.46%.

Q: What are the soil characteristics in the mixed land area?

A: The soil characteristics in the mixed land area include a bulk density of 0.17 g/cm³, a porosity of 73.33%, and an organic matter content of 0.89%.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings?

A: The study's findings have important implications for farmers and land managers in the Sei Wampu downstream watershed. By understanding the differences in infiltration rates and soil characteristics between the different types of land use, they can plan better management practices to maximize the use of water resources and increase land productivity.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including a small sample size, limited data, and methodological limitations.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should aim to investigate the effects of soil management and sustainable agricultural practices on infiltration rates and soil characteristics, conduct a larger-scale study, and use more advanced methods to collect data.

Q: What are the recommendations for farmers and land managers?

A: Based on the study's findings, farmers and land managers are recommended to implement soil management practices that aim to improve soil fertility and structure, adopt sustainable agricultural practices that minimize the use of water and reduce soil erosion, and regularly monitor and evaluate soil characteristics and infiltration rates.

Q: What are the references used in the study?

A: The study references several sources, including the Soil Science Society of America, the International Union of Soil Sciences, and the World Agroforestry Centre.

Q: What is the appendix of the study?

A: The appendix of the study includes several tables and figures that provide additional information on the soil characteristics and infiltration rates in the different types of land use.